JEDDAH, 25 June 2007 — Al-Ahli under 13 football team defeated Rambolift team of France 5-2 at Clairefontaine stadium in their first friendly during the training camp in Paris. The team are in France to participate for the first time in the eighth edition of the Danone Nations Cup scheduled June 29 to July 2 at Gerland Stadium in Lyon.
Al-Faisaliah Group, agent for Danone in Saudi Arabia, nominated Al-Ahli club to participate in this event that attracted 40 countries. This FIFA-sanctioned tournament is being organized as Danone’s contribution to promote the game and the spirit of fair play among the youth. France football icon Zinedine Zidane and the country’s football federation support the event.
Al-Ahli Academy President Prince Khalid ibn Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz thanked Al-Faisaliah Group president Prince Mohammed Al-AbdullahAl-Faisal for nominating the club.
The team, consisting of 30 members led by Ayman Fadi, member of the administration council, flew on Friday to Paris and will train for week and play three friendly matches prior to the tournament.
Defending champions Reunion Island won the event twice in 2001 and in 2006 after downing Switzerland and are expected to keep the title.
The teams are divided into five groups as follows: South Africa, Argentina, Switzerland, Re-Union Island, Mexico, Spain, Japan and Brazil in (Group A), Turkey, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Russia, Portugal and England in (Group B), Italy, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Bulgaria in (Group C), Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Namibia, Ukraine, Oceania State of Vanuatu and Mombasa in (Group D), Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile and Uruguay are in (Group E).
